Harry Kewell has rejected criticism that he was an expensive flop at Liverpool.

The Australian international was released by Liverpool earlier this month after his contract expired at Anfield.

Kewell saw his five years at Anfield blighted by injury, with the winger failing to hit the heights he did at previous club Leeds.

The 29-year-old has come in for criticism from the media for his disappointing spell on Merseyside, but Kewell is refusing to be made a scapegoat.

"There are always scapegoats, there are always people they want to blame," Kewell told reporters in Australia ahead of his country's friendly against Ghana.

Unfortunate

"It's unfortunate I was one of them because I didn't put my hand up to get injured. It's a shame because I haven't done nothing wrong.

"It's something that they live and die for over there.

"They want to write things that aren't nice, but you just don't read it and you get on with your life."

Point to prove

Kewell says injuries prevented him from showing his true worth to Liverpool fans and he claims he would like to recapture his best form to prove a point to Reds boss Rafa Benitez.

"The one person I would like to show is probably my old manager," added Kewell.

"I didn't get a chance to show him a lot of what I could do. It would be great just to show him what I was capable of doing."

Portsmouth have been linked with a move for Kewell, but the Australian has rejected the rumours and says he is keeping all his options open.

"Apparently my agent did it [a deal with Portsmouth] while he was on the plane

coming over to Australia, so I don't know how he's done that," added Kewell.

"But I've never shied away from going abroad. I've never shied away from

playing in the Premier League, I've never shied away from playing anywhere.

"My options are open and we'll see what happens."